Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
In a World of Demons
Chapter 10: Kidnapped
Kagome's knees felt weak as she gazed at the picture and as she let it drop to the floor, her legs deciding to no longer carry her weight. Maybe it was because she had trained that day until exhaustion, or maybe from the shock, she did not know which.
She did fall to her hands and knees on the floor, but she did not faint. No, she was too dignified for that.
"No… no," she whispered as she felt the tears beginning to form in her eyes.
She focused on her breathing, reminding herself to keep her breathing even and steady, but she could not help it from going erratic at the moment. Her fingernails dug into the carpet and she closed her eyes, squeezing out the tears that came. Some fell silently to a floor, but a few made a soft splat sound as they hit the picture below her.
No…. No, it was not possible. He could not have known… how did he know? This was exactly what she was trying to avoid.
Kagome's gaze fell to the picture once more, but it was flipped over so that the horror of the picture could no longer be seen. What she did see was a message on the back.
Against the black of the Polaroid picture, a message, slightly smudged by her tears, was written in red. Blood red.
She read it quickly the first time, then over and over again until the message was memorized in her mind. She did not want to believe it, did not want to see the picture on the other side again because if she did it, it was not real. She could pretend it was not real. That it was all just a joke her mind was playing on her or a dream she could soon wake up from.
…But she could not wait to wake up from the horrible nightmares of her life. It was time to take action, not go around crying about how difficult life had become.
Wanting to crumble the picture in her fist, Kagome refrained herself from doing so. She wanted to take the picture, destroy it by shredding it into a million tiny pieces, but at the same time she did not want to touch the evil thing. Still, she might need it later on.
Touching the picture only as much as need to pick it up, Kagome got up from the ground and grabbed her coat. She shoved the picture in her coat pocket with one hand, while she used the other to furiously wipe away her tears.
The door opened noisily behind her and Kagome spun around. Her mother came in, her arms full of groceries, followed by Souta, his arms equally full.
The house had been eerily silent before, but it was now filled with everyday noises. The creak of the door opening, the jangling of keys, the rustle of the grocery bags, and the teasing of a mother to her child.
"Kagome," her mom said, surprised to see her daughter just standing there, staring at them blankly. She noticed her eyes were moist. "Is something wrong?"
"I've got to go," she told her mother hurriedly and passed her to get through the door without so much as another glance.
Her mother watched Kagome leave with worried-filled eyes, but Kagome did not notice.
"What's her problem?" Souta asked as he took a bite out of the apple he just snagged out of the grocery bag.
But their mother only shook her head, not knowing what to think of her daughter's odd behavior, as she closed the front door.
Someone was knocking on Sango's door, very insistently at that. Well, that and ringing the doorbell, or doing both at the same time, which the person had taken up now. Sango was only surprised that the door had not fallen off with the force they were hitting it with. If it was a salesman outside, there would be hell to pay.
"All right, all right, I'm coming!" Sango yelled at whomever was on the other side of the door.
Taking the last steps to the door she opened it, only to be surprised by who was on the other side.
"Kagome," she said, taken aback while literally taking a step backward.
Her face held many emotions, some of which were grief and anger. Her brown eyes looked tired, more so than they did when they had come back from Kaede and Midoriko's not even a half-hour ago.
"Suit up," Kagome told her demon slaying friend, "we have a demon to fight."
She was never one to encourage or enjoy killing, but, boy, did she want to do Naraku in right then. He had crossed a very dangerous line. Come after her all he wanted, she was fine with her, but to go after an innocent just to toy with her…. He was a bad, bad man.
Kagome winced when she thought the last sentence, bringing back now painful memories.
"Kagome, will you tell me what this is all about?" Sango asked, trying to keep up with her friend's fast pace.
Sango might have been injured badly not too long ago, but she was fine now, completely healed. Still, Kagome was going at a pace that was hard to keep up with. What had happened to annoy her to such an extent that she suggested violence? She usually hated it.
"I'll tell you just as soon as we get Miroku," Kagome informed her, speeding up even more.
Sango swallowed a groan and kept Kagome's pace, nearly having to jog to stay beside her. Kirara walked next to Kagome easily, though looked up at the girl with a worried glance. She rubbed against Kagome's legs to try and sooth her nerves. Kagome looked down and gave her a small smile, even though she was still not in the best of moods.
Soon, to Sango's relief, they reached Miroku's house. She was also extremely curious as to what Kagome was so riled out about.
Kagome reached his door first and continued the unrelenting banging on the door she had started on Sango's front door. Sango, reaching the frantic girl, grabbed her arm before she could hit the door once again and hit Miroku, who had just opened it.
"Remind me to keep you away from doors," Sango muttered.
Miroku raised an eyebrow. "Ah, what do I owe the pleasure after just leaving you two a half-hour ago?" he asked. "Couldn't get enough of me?"
"You wish," Sango said.
Kagome ignored both of them. "Let us inside," she told Miroku, "we have to talk."
Seeing the seriousness in her face and in her tone, Miroku let the smile that had come onto his face drop and opened the door wider to let the two of them in.
By the time Miroku closed the door behind them, Kagome was already on her way to Miroku's room upstairs with Kirara on her heels. Sango and Miroku exchanged a glance and followed their charge.
Once they were all in Miroku's room, Sango sat on the bed with Kirara on her lap while Miroku leaned against the wall as they watched Kagome pace back and forth in the room. Kagome clutched her heart necklace in her fist as her mind ran a mile a minute.
"Now, Kagome, are you going to tell us what's going on?" Sango asked, a bad feeling growing inside her.
Kagome glanced at Sango with a blank expression, forgetting for a second that anyone else was in the room. She had been so caught up in her thoughts about Naraku and….
Kagome stuck her hand in her coat pocket, taking out what looked like a picture from a Polaroid, Sango identified, and tossed it across the room at her. Sango caught it shakily and the second she did, Kirara began growling at the picture and jumped off the bed to scramble over to Kagome.
Puzzled at what had frightened the cat youkai, Sango looked down at the picture in her hand. Kagome saw her face drain of blood right before her eyes.
"Oh my God…" Sango said. She put the picture down and backed away as though there was something truly evil on the bed. She looked up to meet Kagome's eyes. "Kagome, I'm sorry…" she said, for lack of anything better to say.
By this time Miroku was way too curious to not know what the picture was, even though it brought such a horrible reaction out of both females. Even the demonic cat, did not like the picture and she had not even seen it.
The scene in the picture was too much for even Miroku. Chains were wrapped around all four legs, stained partially with what looked like a brown substance. To the untrained eye it would only look like rust, but Miroku knew it for what it really was, dried blood. And it was everywhere, both old and freshly taken from the body. It covered the floor, his skin, and his clothes. The wounds inflicted on the skin were easy to see and his head lolled to the side as if unconscious or… worse. But what got him the most were the chains. Small chains for a small person, made to fit the tiny wrist and ankles of the child kitsune. Chains just big enough to hold the innocent child.
"The same thing just keeps going through my mind over and over again," Kagome told them, breaking the hush that had swept through the room, while looking out the window, "how did he know? He's never seen me with Shippo before. I've only met him a few weeks ago, at that. So how could he have found out?"
"That's… the kitsune you told us about?" Sango asked hesitantly. She picked up Kirara, holding her closely to her.
Kagome nodded her head mutely. "I was just with him yesterday too…" she started as memories of the day of the park came flying back to her.
Her mind and body froze when she remembered something in particular.
It went closer to the children and brushed against Shippo's foot, which he immediately yanked away.
"Oh, no…" she whispered to herself.
…brushed against Shippo's foot…
"What?" Miroku inquired, "what is it Kagome?"
"The shadow… it recognizes by touch…."
"What? What shadow? Kagome, you're not making any sense," Sango commented, looking at her with worried etched into her face.
"There was a demon shadow, while I was watching Rin and Shippo. It was chasing me, but while it was, it touched Shippo's foot. It must have gone back to whoever commands it and…." Kagome's voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
Miroku warily flipped over the picture, only to see the message written on the back in blood.
"'Come if you want the kitsune to live. Bring friends if you wish it, but keep the priestesses out of this. N.,'" Miroku read, leaving out the address under it. He looked up. "N?"
"Naraku," all three chorused at the same time, all with their own level of disgust.
"I want to get Shippo back," she informed them, "as quickly as possible. But I can't do it on my own. So what do you say?"
"I'm in," Sango declared.
"That's not the only reason, is it, Kagome?" Miroku speculated, "you want to see Naraku."
She met his eyes. "I won't lie. yes, that's part of it. But I mostly want to get Shippo back. It's not his fault, he shouldn't be treated like that. He was an innocent." She spoke the last part a little bit harshly. "And Naraku just… he took him and harmed him… to get to me." Her eyes flashed angrily. "We will get Shippo back."
"Hey, I was only wondering. I'll fight," Miroku stated.
Kagome offered him a small smile, the only thing she could currently manage. Timidly, Miroku handed her the picture and Kagome took it after a moments hesitation. Without even so much as a glance, she stuffed it into her pocket once again.
"This… picture was delivered right to my house," she told them, "not to mention Kagura was sitting in my room yesterday when I got home."
Kagome had told them about Kagura little visit and her proposition. They trusted her less than Kagome did, if that was even possible.
Sango gave her a questioning look, so she continued. "Miroku… is there a way you can put up a barrier around my house to keep out demons? I can't do much but… I want to protect my family as much as I can."
Miroku had a hand to his chin as he considered. "Actually… there might be a spell I can use. If there is, it would be wise to put a spell on each of our homes."
"Would it allow certain demons in?" Kagome asked, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
"Why?" Sango asked curiously.
"Well, for our allies. Like… Inuyasha and Kouga," Kagome told them, saying the last part quickly.
Miroku frowned as he pondered. "I'm sure it's possible."
"Good," she said, "now let's suit up and go."
"That would be a good plan if we had any weapons," Miroku said dryly, glancing at the demon slayer.
"Midoriko took our weapons," Sango explained, "after we got hurt, she told us not to go fighting any demons on our own for awhile and for some reason…" she glanced at Miroku, "…she didn't trust us, so she took our weapons from us. We have a few things here… but she has our better weapons."
Kagome had a bad feeling now. Besides the fact that Naraku had told her not to get the priestesses involved, she had wanted to go without the priestesses' knowing because she was more than positive that they'd do their best to stop her. She would not put it past Midoriko to lock her in a room until the night was over and she could no longer make it to the meeting. But she could not just sit around and twiddle her thumbs. There was a life on the line. She was sure if she did not go, Shippo would not live to see the morning.
Sango looked to Miroku. "What time are we to 'meet' Naraku?"
"Midnight…. We have six hours, minus two getting to the priestesses' and back again," Miroku concluded.
"Four hours," Sango said, "then there's time to kill."
"Let's go to Kaede's now," Kagome told them, "I have a feeling we'll have to do a little convincing."
"Yeah, a little," Sango said sarcastically.
Kagome slept in the car the entire way there, trying to rebuild her energy. Everyday she went to train and everyday she came back exhausted. Now she would need all the energy she could get back before midnight.
By the time they got there the sun had already set a long time before and there was no moon that night, making it difficult not to trip as they walked from the car to the house.
Kaede had opened the door before they could even reach to knock on it.
"Back so soon?" Kaede asked, while in the background they heard Midoriko say at the same time, "didn't we get rid of them already?"
They stepped into the house while Kaede smiled and said, "don't mind her. She's just tired."
Kagome smiled. "Well, we just have need to get a few things and then we'll be on our way."
"What type of things?" Midoriko inquired suspiciously.
There was no way she could convince them to give them the weapons without some sort of explanation and the only thing she could think to tell her was the truth. So the priestesses stayed quiet as Kagome explained most of what had happened, taking in all that she said.
"That's all very interesting," Midoriko commented, "but you're not going anywhere."
"What?" both Kagome and Sango exclaimed. Miroku, who had been expecting this, kept quiet and watched the conversation unfold.
"You are not to go seeking trouble. You should not go," Kaede told her.
"That won't work," Sango muttered, "she doesn't listen to reason."
Kagome gave her a glare, but then turned her attention back to Kaede. "I'm going," she said stubbornly. "I don't want to see anyone hurt because of me."
"And I'm telling you, it's a trap. You show up and you're playing right into their hands." Midoriko said, taking a step forward toward the miko-in-training.
"Well, I have to do something. I can't just leave him. You don't get it, do you? He dies if I don't go," Kagome informed them as she too took a defiant step up.
"We do understand," Kaede responded, making Kagome turn to look at her. If they understood, why weren't they letting her go?
"And that's why we can't let you go," Midoriko concluded.
Kagome nearly growled in frustration. Just the thought that she almost had made her think she was hanging around Inuyasha too much.
"So you'll let an innocent child die," Kagome said slowly so that she would not yell. Her hand closed around her necklace angrily, a habit she could never get herself out of. She considered whipping out the picture and shoving it into their faces for a sympathy attempt, but decided against it. She'd only show it if she had to.
"When it's you, yes," she began.
"Midoriko," Kaede snapped, "that's enough."
She was angry at Midoriko comment, but her face held surprise. She had never seen Kaede mad or snap at anyone before. Her surprise, however, did not last long as anger found its way back.
"I understand perfectly now. But I will not sit around when someone is being harmed on my account."
She stormed out of the room, heading toward the room they held their weapons. Whether they wanted her to or not, she was going. There was no way they could keep her from going. Kagome only wondered if Sango and Miroku would defy the two to go with Kagome. She could not be sure what they would decide.
Kaede followed the girl out of the room, trailed by the rest. "You are not ready, child," Kaede stated.
Kagome searched through the room, only phased for a moment after seeing the extensive amount of weapons they had. She picked up a sword, gulped, and put it back. Not only would she probably wind up hurting herself since she had no idea how to use one, she was not sure she wanted to kill anything with one.
Ignoring some of the more complex weapons, she continued to search. He'd never mentioned anything about not bring weapons. She may not be the smartest person, but she at least was not stupid enough to go unarmed to a meeting with this Naraku demon.
Something was calling out to her in the room, a pulsation of power tugging her toward it. She paused in motion for a moment. There, in the corner. Kagome cautiously went over and picked up a bow and arrows. Perfect.
"I'll be just fine," she told them while examining the weapon in her hands.
"Did you not hear, Kaede? You're not strong enough yet! If you try to use your powers you'll knock yourself unconscious like you did last time or worse. And if you don't use your powers, then you're easy prey. It's a lose-lose situation, and guess what?" Everyone paused to look at her. "You're going to lose!"
"I don't have time to sit here and argue. Now let—" Kagome declared, but was cut off.
Kaede handed her a crossbow. "Take this. It's easily hidden under your jacket and you can use it in an emergency."
Kagome stopped abruptly, shocked. "You're… letting me go? No more arguing?"
Kaede handed her the crossbow and Kagome took it, still a little stunned. She looked down at it, while examining it like she had the bow. It was pretty small, as long as her arm from the edge of her fingertips to her elbow. Kaede also handed her a few arrows made especially for the small crossbow, that were slightly smaller then the entirety of it.
"Would it change your mind?"
She found herself half-smiling. "No."
Kaede helped her out of her jacket and helped strap the crossbow and the arrows onto her back. This way it was concealed by her large jacket and if she needed it, she only needed to slip the jacket slightly off and reach a hand over her shoulder to grab it and an arrow.
"Then what would be the point?"
Kagome put her jacket back on over the weapon, then took the bow and arrows in her hand. She'd only use the crossbow if she had to.
Midoriko stared at Kaede incredulously. "You can't be serious—" She stopped, knowing none of them were listening to her. "Look, if you're going to go and there is no way to stop you, then we're coming with you."
"No," Kagome said simply, "you can't. If you do, they won't show up and then Shippo…."
Kaede nodded and Kagome was relieved. They would still let her go.
"And I thought the hanyou was a handful," the younger priestess grumbled.
Kagome paused. That was right, Inuyasha. She supposed she should go and find him. She could use his help if things got rough, but she did not know where to find him. He always found her, not the other way around. Maybe she could start with that one roof, if she could find a way to get on it….
"Let's go. We still have to find Inuyasha," Kagome informed Sango and Miroku, who had stayed quiet as the three had argued. They had thought it better if they did not interfere. They weren't suicidal.
"He cannot help you. It's his period of vulnerability," Kaede stated.
Miroku's eyes widened slightly. "You mean tonight he's…." He dropped off mid-sentence.
"What? He's what?" Kagome inquired, confused, "I feel like I'm missing something here."
The four exchanged looks while Kagome waited somewhat impatiently, for someone to explain what was going on that she did not know about.
Kaede explained. "Inuyasha, as you know, is a half-demon. So, you see, during every new moon…"
Kaede watched the three teenager get into the car and pull out of the driveway. The headlights had been the only light outside and as they drove away, the two were left in the darkness.
"This is against my better judgement," Midoriko murmured beside her.
"She is not a child."
Midoriko sneered. "Yeah, you only just call her that all the time," she said sarcastically.
Kaede ignored her. "she can take care of herself. And they can take care of her."
"We should have gone with them," Midoriko grumbled as she abruptly turned and went back inside.
"No, this time it is not our battle." Kaede followed her inside, closing the door behind her, keeping the hungry bugs out.
"So says you," Midoriko responded as she flopped down on a couch.
"Besides, I'm an old woman and you haven't been able to fight well since that centipede demon almost crushed you in half."
Midoriko merely looked away.
"And if I'm not mistaken, it was you who scolded Kikyo for bringing Inuyasha back with her that one time. Since then, Inuyasha has aided us greatly."
"Oh, I still hold onto my words. That hanyou is no good."
"Are you sure about this, Kagome?" Sango asked worriedly. "You don't want us to come with you?"
It's not that Sango didn't trust Kouga, it was only… no wait that was it. She did not trust the wolf demon at all.
Kagome stood outside the car, leaning in Sango's opened window. The weapon of her choice—her bow—was in the back seat of the car. No use bringing it and alarming all wolves and other demons in the vicinity.
She smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine. The wolves wouldn't harm me and I'll be safe while among them. Plus, I need to talk with Kouga," she told them one again for what most have been the third or fourth time. "And you also need to go home and change clothes, Sango. Go to my house, perform the spell and I'll meet you in the park in, um, let's say an hour."
"One hour," Miroku told her, "and then we'll come searching for you."
She saluted him. "Alright, captain," she said mockingly with a smile.
Without another word, he put the car into gear and both of her friends drove away. The smile slipped from her face the moment they were out of view. Normally she would not mind if they came with her, but if they happened to run upon Yukio… well let's just say there would be a lot of things broken in the room. Including people.
She also did not mind seeing Kouga, but certain other wolves….
She stuck her chin out stubbornly and began walking. She would not let her nerves get to her.
Kagome did not remember exactly where the club that the DOA gang's liar ran was, but it turned out it didn't matter. All she had to do was follow the pounding music and it led her right to the front entrance, which showed another problem. There was a long line to get into it and she did not feel like, nor did she have the time to wait.
Trying to look as if she knew what she was doing, she confidently walked up to the wolf demon at the entrance allowing only certain people through, while some demons and humans grumbled as they watched her try to cut the line.
She stopped in front of the demon, opened her mouth to say something, when she realized she did not know what to say. The rather muscular, tough-looking, demon looked at her and scoffed.
"Yeah, little missy? What do ya want?"
"I… I need to get inside," she told him. She heard a demon behind her snicker.
"Ya do, do ya?" he said with a harsh laugh.
Kagome hated getting laughed at. She was about to open her mouth to speak, when another wolf demon whispered in the first one's ear. His eyes widened as he looked back at Kagome. He let her through without another word. Kagome hid a smirk of satisfaction.
If she thought the music was loud outside, it was nothing compared to the thundering it was inside. Her head began throbbing after taking only a few steps into the room. How could the demons, that had better hearing then she did, stand it?
The large room was entirely packed with people and was dark except for the multicolored lights that randomly moved around the room, which were making her head spin. All she could see was a big clump of people, but could tell no one apart. She did not even know how to find her way to the back room that she and Kouga had talked in last time.
She tried wading through the large groups of people, but was always pushed out somehow. Her eyes became blinded by the light and she stumbled around. Kagome squeaked when someone grabbed her around the waist and brought them to her.
She began struggling, when she heard the demon shout in her ear above the loud music, "hey, don't worry. It's me."
Kagome turned partially around to see who this "me" was and was relieved to see Ginta. She relaxed in his arms and he took her wrist in his hand, weaving through the demons and humans, while dragging her behind.
Finally they were out of the room with the door closed firmly behind them, though Kagome's head was still pounding.
"What are you doing here, Kagome?" Ginta asked curiously.
"I need to talk with Kouga. Do you think you can get him for me?" she inquired with a small hopefully smile.
He complied and left the room to go back into the chaos and search for Kouga, leaving Kagome. Alone. Great, just great. She waited somewhat impatiently, waves of nervousness coming off her.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is," she heard the voice behind her.
She froze, but said, "I could say the same about you."
Kagome turned slowly to see Yukio standing not five feet away. Too close for comfort.
"What are you doing back here, sweet?" he asked casually, though the way he took steps forward suggested a very different mood.
"None of your business," she told him, folding her arms over her chest while trying to keep herself from taking a step back. Hell, she was keeping herself from turning and running the other way. If need be, she could always go for the crossbow strapped to her back. But she did not want to shot him. If she wanted him dead, she'd have told Kouga what'd he did. Somehow she thought that he'd be able to make it over to her before she could even reach it anyway.
"Hmm, I'm surprised you came back at all. That took guts, sweet. Come to rat me out?" Another threatening step forward.
Kagome couldn't help it. She took a step back. "No. Believe it or not, this isn't about you."
Abruptly, he stopped. He heard the truth in her words. The tension in his body drained out. Then out of pure curiosity, he asked, "why didn't you tell?"
He was glad she had not. It made things easier for him. If the other demons did not know he was working for Naraku, he could still be used as a spy for him. He only wondered why the girl had kept quiet. Was she that stupid?
She opened her mouth to answer, but found she didn't have one. Not one she could tell him anyway. He would not believe her.
Luckily, that's when Kouga and Ginta came back, along with Hakkaku.
Kouga took one look at Yukio, snarled, and said, "Leave. Now."
Yukio looked like he wanted to argue, but another growl from Kouga left him sending a glare first at Kouga then Kagome before he turned and left the room.
Before Kouga could even ask why she had come, Kagome went into a full explanation of the situation at hand. Kouga listened without comment, and Ginta and Hakkaku, who had stayed in the room, seemed to comment only if Kouga allowed them to. Since he did not, they did not speak.
"…so I was wondering if you wanted to come along when we met Naraku," Kagome concluded.
If Inuyasha could not come, Kouga was the next best thing. After all, the note had said to bring friends if she wished and Kouga was her friend. Sort of. Sango and Miroku were great and good fighters at that, but it would be more comforting if she had some demon back-up.
It only took moments for Kouga to consider. "I've never met this Naraku character and we need to keep you safe. So I'm in." he nodded to the two wolves behind him. "They'll come too."
It was an order, not a request. The two were compelled to agree, but their faces showed no annoyance at the command so Kagome kept her mouth shut about it. She was too relieved that she had someone to help her to worry about whether either wolf actual had wanted to come along.
"Then come on. We have to meet Miroku and Sango," she said with a smile.
Kouga spoke a few words to a couple of wolves, then the four of them were off to the park to meet her two friends. It was not too long a walk and no one dared bother them along the way, humans and demons alike sensing the power that radiated off the demons by her side.
Surprisingly, they reached the park before Miroku and Sango. Kagome sat down on a swing, slowly swinging back and forth as they waited. Kouga lay down on the cool metal of the slide with his arms behind his head, his head turned up toward the stars. Ginta sat on the swing next to Kagome and Hakkaku waited patiently, leaning against a nearby tree.
Kagome wished they'd hurry up. Being in the park brought back memories of the previous day and that only brought back the memory of Shippo…. How badly had they hurt him? Judging by the picture, pretty badly. She felt the tears prickle her eyes and she clutched the heart-shaped locket around her neck. Was he even still alive?
She snapped back to herself when she heard a car door and then another slam closed, then heard the footsteps of the approaching two.
Kouga sat up while crossing his arms over his chest. "About time."
Deciding to ignore the demon, Miroku turned to Kagome and said, "it's done."
Kagome managed a small smile. "Good." At least that was off her shoulders. For now.
They all walked over so the six of them were in a group in the center of the park.
"So where are we going?" Ginta asked, turning to Kagome.
Everyone looked at her expectantly.
Kagome slowly took the picture out of her coat pocket. Without looking at the picture, she turned it over to the back that held directions. Kouga glanced over her shoulder at the message written on it.
Kouga's nostrils flared. "That's written in blood."
Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat. Silently, she handed the picture to Miroku, but as soon as she did, Kouga held out his hand for it.
"Better let me drive. I know where it is," Kouga informed the monk.
Miroku frowned and looked down at the address. Well, what could he say? He certainly did not know where the place was, but he didn't want to trust his car in the demon's hands.
He sighed silently and handed over the picture, while wondering if he could sue a wolf demon for damages to his car. As the group of six began walking toward the car, Miroku tossed Kouga the keys as well, which he caught gracefully.
Realizing that there was six of them and only five available seats, Kagome was first to call shotgun and since Kouga was driving, it left the other four squished in the back. Sucks for them.
They began piling into the car, one by one after Kouga had unlocked all their doors, though first Sango and Miroku moved all the weapons into the trunk.
Kagome was just about to step into the car when she heard the voice behind her.
"Going somewhere without me?" he asked.
Kagome paused and turned to Inuyasha. It may have been night, but the starlight and the headlights from Miroku's car gave her enough light to see the approaching hanyou. Except he wasn't exactly a hanyou anymore. Just like Kaede had told her, his hair was no longer its usual silver color, but instead black. His eyes had also changed, going from a golden color to a violet one. In another second, she took in the other changes, like the fact that he no longer had the long claws or the strong sense of power surrounding him. In fact, the only reason she did recognize him was from his voice and facial features.
She blinked slowly. They had told her that he'd be human, but she hadn't actually believed them fully. This proved it.
Then she remembered he had asked her a question. "Yes, actually," Kagome answered.
"Where?"
"We have to rescue—" she started.
His brain seemed to function slower than others because it took him until then to figure out her initial response.
"Wait, what?" he asked, somewhere between confused and angry.
Kagome sighed. She felt a headache coming on. "You're not coming with us," she explained.
"Oh, yes I am," he told her, taking another step forward.
Kagome, from her position still halfway in the car, got out fully and closed the door.
"No, you're not," she said simply.
"You'd take him, but not me?" he said incredulously, looking at Kouga behind the steering wheel. Now there was an accident waiting to happen.
"Inuyasha, have you looked at yourself tonight? You're human!" she exclaimed. "How did you even find us?" It wasn't like he could have used his demon senses to find her.
He had wondered at first why she had not asked about his appearance, but had come to the conclusion that someone must have told her. That someone being Kaede, since no one but the three priestess had known about it and Midoriko was not likely to talk about him. Well, the priestesses were the only three that knew about it that could inform Kagome, anyway. Though, there was the possibility of one more….
"I saw Miroku's car and followed it. And don't you think I realized that?" he questioned, irritated. "What does it matter? You're human. Sango and Miroku are human."
"That's different. Sango and Miroku are trained and I have to go. You would just get yourself hurt. You're not use to human limitations." Probably, she added silently, since she was only guessing.
What she said was true, but he wasn't going to tell her that and let her get the satisfaction of being right.
"Besides you getting hurt, if they don't know about you yet, all the better. You'll come in better use later when we might need a surprise attack." Before he could argue, she added, "plus I have these five to protect me."
Kagome could tell Inuyasha's jaw was set and he was bent on coming. Kagome was just as determined for him not to.
"Bye, Inuyasha," she told him as she opened the door and got back in the car.
"Kagome," he said in a warning tone.
She did not pay attention, only turned Kouga and told him to drive.
"Kagome!" he exclaimed, banging his fists against the window.
Miroku winced at the abuse to his car and was only glad he was only human. Had he been normal he could have punched right through the window. Well actually, had he been normal, he could have lifted the back end of the car up and kept them from going. Good thing he wasn't.
Kouga turned the key in the ignition. "Hold onto your seats," he said as he put the car in gear and smirked. "This is going to be a bumpy ride."
He put his foot down on the gas hard and the car jumped to a start, throwing them all forward and then back into their seats. Kagome could hear the faint yelling of her name from outside as they sped away.
At the velocity at which Kouga was going, Kagome clicked her seatbelt in the holder so that it was secure. She noticed Kouga himself was not wearing one, but if push came to shove he could survive a throw out the windshield. Kagome could not.
Since the seatbelts in the back did not accommodate four, the four could not use them. Boy, did Kagome feel sorry for them. Though she felt most sorry Sango, who was half-sitting on Miroku's lap. Miroku did not mind in the least. In fact, he had put his arms around her waist "to keep her in place", or so he said.
If they hadn't needed him to be conscious for the fight that may come, Sango would have clabbered him. As it was, she merely grabbed her wrist and held on painfully tight every time his hand would begin to wander.
They drove for awhile, which was saying a lot since Kouga was practically going double the speed limit, pissing off every car they passed. He seemed to know where he was going, so no one questioned him.
Abruptly, he slowed down and turned into a parking lot, and a quite large one at that. There were no building in sight around it, except for one that looked half-crumbled upon itself next to the lot. There were a few lights, illuminating a few spaces in the parking lot, but the majority was left in the dark.
Kouga parked at the very end of it, a couple of spaces from the nearest light. There was stillness in the car as he turned off the engine, but it only lasted for a minute or two before he opened his door, then everyone followed suit. He popped the trunk on his way out and each of them grabbed their weapons.
They looked out at the night around them. Nothing.
"We're a little early," Sango explained.
"What do we do now?" Hakkaku asked.
Kagome searched the darkness. "Wait," Kagome said simply.
Suddenly, a growling came from deep in Kouga's throat, followed by the two other wolves. Kouga's head whipped around toward a certain light that was swinging back and forth, the light flashing on and off quickly every minute or so.
He never said anything, but he did not have to. Kagome already knew why he was growling.
He had arrived.
Finally she began to hear the soft sound of footsteps against the gravel, coming their way. Kouga turned around once again, still growling, obvious hearing something from behind them as well. However, Kagome's eyes were fixated in front of her.
A dark outline of someone was coming closer, the echo of footsteps along with it. He was a demon, he did not have to make a sound, but it seemed he only did so to add to the effect.
The old, swinging light went out, longer, it seemed, than it had before. The footsteps stopped. Then the light flashed back on and illuminated the face of the demon. Kagome jumped back at the abruptness to it.
A baboon's face floating in the darkness before he took a step forward and the rest of his body was brought to light. His body was white fur, the only thing not white, the blue on his face.
"So you're Kagome," the demon said.
"Naraku." One word. Yet it held so much emotion. "Where's Shippo?"
"Oh, he won't be coming."
She could hear the smirk in his voice, knew the taunting in his words, knowing that she would wonder whether the kitsune was okay or not. And it made her angry. Terribly angry. Then before she even knew what she was doing, her hand found an arrow and she had strung and shot it without knowing she had. Kagome only realized what she had done when she saw the arrow shooting through the air.
As it had left her bow, a pinkish light had surrounded her and it. Once the arrow had left her hand, the light around Kagome had faded. The power around the arrow had not.
It hit Naraku dead on, drove into his chest, into his heart, and the arrow exploded inside him. Then Naraku stumbled backward and onto the floor, where Naraku disintegrated into a million pieces.
She blinked. That was it? He was gone?
"A puppet," she heard Sango say beside her, scornfully.
Oh.
Then the attack began. Hundreds of demons from all around them began their attack. The five of them turned to form a circle around Kagome, fighting the demons that came close, while she shot arrows between two of them.
Sango threw her hiraikotsu, taking out dozens of demons at a time, splitting them in half as she tossed it and when it made its return trip. The rest had to fight more intimately, though Sango too was vulnerable those moments when her weapon was gone. During one of those moments, a demon jumped her and began biting viciously into her shoulder.
She cried out in pain and drew the sword from her side, but another demon grabbing her arm stopped her from using it. She used her free arm to punch the demon that was eating at her shoulder in the side of the head, wincing as her hand met the hard bone.
The demon slumped down and Sango heaved the body at the other demon, then used her sword to cut them both down. However, her hiraikotsu came back before she had time to catch it, hitting her forcefully and making her stumble backwards before falling to the floor.
Blinking back the black spots that came into her vision, she forced herself up a few minutes later as more demons attacked, trying not to look at her shoulder that was in bloody ruins and hurting like hell. She was having trouble moving her left arm as it was.
Miroku watched Sango fall from the corner of his vision, and kept the demons away from her as she slowly got back up. A snake demon slithered up to him and bit into his calf, but he shook it off and crushed it with the end of his staff. He then picked up the staff and swung it at a charging demon.
Kouga punched and bit at the enemy, using his speed to strike them down before they ever knew what hit them. He kicked another in the stomach, sending it flying backward, making a bunch of other demons fall over with it. His hand closed over another's throat, crushing it, as he sensed another behind him too late. However, when he turned, an arrow shot passed him, taking out the demon about to run its claws through Kouga's stomach.
He took a second to flash a smile at Kagome, before another demon took another swipe at his arm, slicing it open. He growled and dove back into the fight.
Ginta and Hakkaku had weapons that Kagome could not identify at their sides, but they were sharp and deadly enough, so what did it matter what they were called? The two fought as a team, back to back, helping the other as they fought.
"There's too many!" Sango cried out as she was forced backward. She threw her hiraikotsu once more.
Kouga grinned. "That's why I had a bunch of wolves follow us from the club."
A few minutes later, just as Kouga said, maybe ten, twelve wolves came to their aid, some with weapons, others not. The fighting ensued, but they were tiring and Kagome was running out of arrows.
Something was circling around them, fast. Kagome could sense it. It never stopped, as though looking for a way in or waiting for a certain opportunity. Then another, less power demon jumped in the circling.
One of them caught her eye and she saw a blur of white fur. Another one of Naraku's puppets?
Abruptly, it stopped circling them, stopping on top of the streetlight. Kagome saw it was one of Naraku's puppets, or actually him, though she doubted the latter. In his hand she saw the glint of steel, but could not make out what it was. It was gone from his hand a moment later. He flung it and it moved so fast, Kagome could not follow it through the air.
Miroku let out a cry of anguish and fell to hard to his knees on the gravel. He was hunched over himself, his head nearly touching the ground. There were dots of his blood on the ground surrounding him.
Kagome heard Naraku laugh and disappear. Her face grew pale and her eyes widened as she looked over at Miroku.
What had he done?
"Miroku!" Sango yelled and bent down beside him, one hand on his back as she tried to discover what happened.
Kagome heard Sango muffle a cry as she saw what had happened. Miroku then leaned back and she had a look herself.
A dagger. A dagger was embedded in Miroku's right palm, the blade going through his hand. The only reason the dagger had not gone all the way through was because of the hilt that was pressed against Miroku's palm. Miroku's left hand gripped his right wrist painfully tight to try and keep the hand steady as he bit his lip to keep from crying out again. Blood, extensive amounts of it, dripped down from his hand and poured down onto the pavement below.
He let out small hisses of pain. His face pale and his brow dripping in sweat, he looked up and into Sango's face, inches from his. A small part of him noticed her eyes were moist. "…San…go…."
She nodded mutely and put her hand to the hilt, gripping it tightly, so much so that her knuckles were white and her hand shook. In one quick, fluid motion, she pulled the dagger free.
Miroku screamed.
Kagome whimpered softly as she watched. Her bow dropped helplessly to the floor, forgotten.
That's when the second demon that had been circling saw his opportunity. He jumped down toward Kagome and by the time Kagome had noticed, it was too late to pick up her bow.
The demon snatched her up off the floor, Kagome struggling all along the way. He began taking off with Kagome slung over one shoulder and the demons on the ground retreated.
"Let me go!" she exclaimed as she pounded on his back. "Let me go!"
"Can't do that," the demon's voice slurred back so that the words found her ears.
Still she continued to pound, then, noticing a knife in a sheath by his side, she grabbed for the knife and plunged it into the demon's side.
He growled in pain and threw her to the ground. Before she even had time to get up and make a run for it, he held her down and stuffed a cloth over her mouth.
She yelled some words that were muffled by the cloth and kicked at him, before a minute later her eyes began to droop and her body relaxed.
Smiling cruelly, he slung the unconscious girl over his shoulder once more and took off into the night.